Phil Rudd, Angus Young and Cliff Williams on stage during an AC/DC concert in Munich.
Photograph: Jan Pitman/AP

Angus Young of AC/DC says his bandmates have not been in touch with Phil Rudd since he was charged with threatening to kill and possessing methamphetamine and marijuana last week, adding that he appeared to be “in a pickle”.

Young, 59, said in an interview Thursday that the drummer’s behavior had been somewhat erratic during the recording of their new album.

“Well, we had a few problems,” the lead guitarist said, while sitting alongside the band’s bassist, Cliff Williams. “The situation he’s in that took everyone by surprise.

“We had a few issues before with him, even when we were recording it was hard even to get to him to do the recording.”

“And then he was supposed to show up to do promos with us, to do video shoots and a few shoots and a few other things, and he never showed up for that either. So, at this stage, it’s a pretty tough call for us.”

Rudd, who has been with the band on and off for nearly three decades, is expected to appear in court in New Zealand on 27 November.

“We haven’t had contact,” Young said in New York City. “But he has his people that represent him. He’s got himself in a pickle.”

Police initially accused Rudd of trying to arrange for a hitman to carry out two killings. They charged him with attempting to procure murder, which comes with a maximum 10-year sentence. The charge was dropped after a day.

Rudd, 60, could face a maximum prison term of seven years for the charge of threatening to kill.

AC/DC’s new album, Rock or Bust, will be released on 2 December. They will start a tour next year.

Young said they would continue to promote the album and perform without Rudd, if need be. “At this point it’s kind of a question mark. But if we’re touring, there will be a drummer in place, put it that way.”

The Australian band’s 61-year-old rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, who has dementia, announced in September he was leaving the group because of his health.

Stevie Young, nephew of founding members Malcolm and Angus Young, played guitar on the band’s new album and will join them on the tour. The band’s singer is Brian Johnson.